Supply chain & logistics innovation among mining industry companies has dropped off in the last year

Research and innovation in supply chain & logistics in the mining industry operations and technologies sector has declined in the last year.

The most recent figures show that the number of supply chain and logistics related patent applications in the industry stood at 18 in the three months ending May – down from 26 over the same period in 2021.

Figures for patent grants related to supply chain and logistics followed a similar pattern to filings – shrinking from 11 in the three months ending May 2021 to 9 in the same period in 2022.

The figures are compiled by GlobalData, which tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Using textual analysis, as well as official patent classifications, these patents are grouped into key thematic areas, and linked to key companies across various industries.

Supply chain and logistics is one of the key areas tracked by GlobalData. It has been identified as being a key disruptive force facing companies in the coming years, and is one of the areas that companies investing resources in now are expected to reap rewards from. The figures also provide an insight into the largest innovators in the sector.

Honeywell International was the top supply chain and logistics innovator in the mining industry operations and technologies sector in the latest quarter. The company, which has its headquarters in the US, filed 9 supply chain and logistics-related patents in the three months ending May. That was the same as 9 over the same period in 2021.

It was followed by the US-based Caterpillar with 5 supply chain and logistics patent applications, the UK-based Rio Tinto (2 applications), and Australia-based Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (1 applications).